Stoke beat Stevenage to reach FA Cup fifth round

Josh Laurent's brilliant goal helped Stoke City end Stevenage's FA Cup run and progress to the fifth round.

But Laurent put the Championship team back in front when he cut in from the right and sent an unstoppable left-footed strike into the far corner.

Lewis Baker sealed Stoke's victory with a penalty.

The spot-kick was controversially awarded by referee David Webb after what seemed a perfectly fair challenge on Brown by Jonathan Tomkinson.

Stoke looked comfortable after an unmarked Brown had time to control the ball at the far post and fire home after Bersant Celina's third-minute corner had been flicked on by Ben Wilmot.

They almost doubled their lead before the interval when ex-Stevenage defender Wilmot's header from another Celina corner was cleared off the line by Max Clark, and when keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond produced a fine save to deny Will Smallbone.

Stevenage rallied in the second half and Reid forced a save from keeper Jack Bonham shortly before the visitors appealed in vain for a penalty when the ball struck Laurent's arm.

The underdogs levelled when Reid, who also equalised in the third-round triumph at Villa, took advantage of some slack Stoke defending.

Wilmot failed to deal with Ashby-Hammond's goal-kick and was then unable to prevent the ball crossing the line after Reid had nipped in and lobbed Bonham.

However, Laurent netted in emphatic fashion three minutes later and Stevenage's hopes of another comeback were crushed by the penalty decision.

Stevenage manager Steve Evans told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We don't get a penalty for handball - his arm was out, it's a penalty - and then he gives Stoke a penalty and it's never a penalty. It's a great challenge.

"He's then watching the replay as we kick-off and is running about telling my players he got it wrong. How does that motivate my players to come back in a cup tie? Somebody needs to explain that.

"He gets it wrong - referees get things wrong, I get things wrong. We all get things wrong. Players do. But you don't run about rubbing people's face in it when there's a cup tie with 15 minutes still to go.

"The referee effectively kills the cup tie. We made some mistakes as well, but I'm proud of our efforts in the FA Cup.

"(Former Premier League referee) Howard Webb did a podcast with me. Phone me, Howard. Phone me and explain why a referee runs about telling players after watching the screen - should he be watching the screen or watching the game? The game's kicked off.

"Someone needs to know why the referee is running about telling my players 'I've got that horribly wrong'.

"The fourth official was right by me and knew it wasn't a penalty."

Stoke boss Alex Neil:

"It's job done. They were always going to come and fight for every ball and make it difficult.

"I thought our response to the equaliser was excellent as, at that point, you can feel doubt in yourself, and their fans start to get behind them.

"They had a bit of vigour and belief, but I thought we took that away from them with a wonderful goal from Laurent.

"I thought we merited the win and we're deservedly through to the next round."